Island



Dec. 4 1923.

G. P. BOSWORTH STOCKING AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed July 26. 1922 v Inventor: Georg Hfioswori fliiys.

Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. BOSWORTH, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HEMPHILL COMPANY, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS.

Application filed July 26, 1922. Serial No. 577,717.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. Boswon'rn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Central Falls, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have i vented'an Improvement in Stockings and ethods of Making Same, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like char- 1 acters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to-stockings and to the method of making the same. In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed in the drawin a single embodiment of the stocking an will describe the best mode known to me for making the same.

The drawing represents a side elevation of-a stocking constructed in accordance with my invention.

The stocking may be begun at the top 1 of the leg or at the top 2 of the too. I will first describe the stocking as knitted begin- 2 ning at the top 1 of the leg upon a circular series of needles which may be of any type, but which preferably are spring beard needles mounted for independent reciprocation in the grooves of the needle cylinder of any 0 suitable machine, such, for example, as a Banner machine adapted to knit split foot stockings b'ut equipped with means to effect the s ecial operations hereinafter set forth. Within the scope of my invention said 0 r- 86 ations may be practised manually. ny suitable number of needles may be employed and the relative numbers thereof used in knitting the different parts may be ,varied. The numbers hereinafter given are by way 40 of example merely.

It will be assumed that thevknitting is commenced .upon a circle of 240 needles, and is continued down by rotary knitting to the line AA, which although of the irregular t6v direction shown, in the completed stocking, is while the stocking is in the machine a transverse line directly across the stocking. I then throw out the fronthalf of the neodles,,120 in number in the present example, so from a point 3 to a corresponding point upon the opposite side of the stocking, said needles retaining their loops. I atv the same time throw out of action 96 additional needles (48 on each side) in the present example, extending on one side from the int 3 to the point 4 and on the other si e of the stocking extending between similar points, said 96 needles retaining their loops.

his leaves in action only 24 needles in the present example, symmetrically arranged at the back of the leg and extending from the point 4 around to a corresponding point on the opposite side of the stocking. I then begin to knit on said 24 needles and I constantly widen at each end of each stroke of reciprocation in a well known way. Desirably I do thisupon a Banner machine by throwing up one needle at each end of each reciprocatory stroke and throwing down two needlesfthus' giving an actual widening of one needle at each end. For the best results, such widening is eflected at each end of each reciprocation, though my invention is not limited to effecting the widening upon each reciprocation.

The widening is continued until upon both sides of the stocking the said 96 needles are all brought into action, thus making a gore extending on each side from one end of the line A down to a line BB and indicated at 5. This provides an actual fullness in the calf of the leg. If desired, the be located at a higher point in the calf.

I then immediately bring into action the front 120 needles, which up to this time have retained their loops and" then I knit by recigirocating knitting upon the entire circle 0 needles, using two yarn guides, one feed! ing to the front half of the needles, 120 in number to make the front of the ankle indicated at 6, and the other yarn guide .feeding to the back half of the needles, 120 in number, to make the back half .7 of that ankle, the said two portions knitted by ,reciprocating knitting being joined by two suture lines or seams, (one of which is indicated at 8) characteristic of split foot work and WlllCl'l therefore need not be more fully described.v Desirably. when I begin knitting the gore 5 I substitute or introduce a different arn which preferably heavier, though desirably both the yarn or thread by which the main portion of the leg and the front of the ankle is knitted, as well as the yarn by which the gore 5 in the back of the ankle are knitted are composed of silk in the m and which is boi ed out after tho stoc 'ng is made. At a, suitable point, as

ore 5 may (ill for example at the point 7 I substitute or add a high splice yarn to form the high splice indicated at '7",

The knitting is continued in accordance with the usual'practic'e of split foot work until a line C. C C is reached, whereupon the instep needles are thrown out of action while retaining their loops and the heel portion 9 is knitted by narrowing and w1den1ng n a usual manner, but desirably upon a heel yarn which is substituted for the yarn by which the portions 5 and 7 and '2' are knitted, and which as hereinafter stated may themselves difier. After the heel pocket is completed, the instep needles are restored to action and then the foot is knittedby split foot work so as to make on each side of the foot a sutureline or seam, one of which is shown as extending from the point 10 to the point '11. The top ofthe foot is knitted desirably from the same yarn used to knit the upper portion of the leg and the front ankle portion 6, but the bottom of the stocking indicated at 12 is desirably'knitted from the same yarn or thread used for the heel, which is preferably a mercerized yarn. Desirably at the end of the upper portion of the foot I knit circularly upon all the needles to form the portion 13, using the yarn employed for knitting the bottom of the foot, and thereafter I knit the toe pocket 14 in the usual manner by narrowing and widening. After the stocking has been knitted, it is preferably boiled to remove the gum from the silk and may be dried upon a forming board.

Instead of beginning the operation at the top of the leg the operation may be reversed and the knitting begun upon one half the needles extending from a point 1.5 at the toe around to a corresponding point on the opposite side and the'procedure described is reversed until the horizontal line A, B, B is reached, whereupon I throw out of action the front half of the needles, 120 in number, permitting them to retain their loops, and then I knit by reciprocating knitting upon the remaining half of the needles but narrow at each end of each reciprocating stroke,that is, I throw one needle up out of action at each end of each reciprocating "stroke, but permitting the needle to retain its, loop. This narrowing operation I continue until at each side of the stocking, I have thrown out of action 48 needles, thus leaving in action 24 needles, I then immediately bring into action by a single movement of the machine the two groups of 48 needles each and the front half of the needles, 120 in number, whereupon I continue the knitting upon all the needles, but knit by rota work until-the top 1 of the leg is reache It will be observed that the lines 3, i at opposite sides of the stocking are at the calf naraoea results in a stocking having very desirable characteristics.

Desirably I change the stitch length when I begin to knit upon the 24 needles according to the first method, shortening the stitches, and when I throw into action the front half of the needles I resume the knitting thereon with a shorter loop. In other words from the line A A downward the 'knitting is efiected by smaller loops, thus giving something of a shaping to the stocking. I desirably shorten the stitch length at a plurality of points below the line A A. I

reverse this in knitting in accordance with the second method. I may and desirably do use difi'erent weights or 'colors or both of yarn at the front and the back of the ankle part, as by using heavier yarn at the back, and I may in knitting the gore 5 use a yarn somewhat heavier than the yarn for knitting the upper part of the leg and the front 6- of the ankle, and then change to a still I heavier yarn for knitting the back portion 7 of the ankle and to a. still heavier yarn for knitting the high splice 7*.

I do not in this application disclose or claim the subject matter of my co-pending application S. N. 577,871, wherein is disclosed and claimed a stocking having among other features a. gore. at substantially the position of a tapered high splice and the method of makingsuch a stocking.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention and the best method known to me for carrying out the same, I desire it to be understood that although I have used specific terms they are employed in a generic or descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being setforth in the ac companying claims.

I claim:

1. A seamless stocking having a circularl knit upper leg portion, a gore at the cal portion, a split work ankle integrally hitted with said gore and leg ortion and as an immediate continuation t ereof, and a foot integral with the ankle portion.

2. A seamless stocking having a circularly knit, upper leg portion, 'a gore at the calf portion, a s lit work ankle integrally knitted with 'sai gore and leg'portion and as an immediate continuation thereof and a split foot integral with the ankle portion.

3. A seamless stocking having a circularly knlt, upper leg portion, a gore at the calf portion respectively having a varying number of loops in successive courses, a split work ankle integrally knitted with said gore and leg portion and as an immediate continuation thereof, and a foot intcgral with the ankle portion.

4. A seamless stocking having a circularly knit, upper leg portion, a gore at the calf portion, a split workankle integrally knitted with said. gore and leg portion and as anj-immediate continuation thereof, and a foot integral with the ankle portion, the front and back portions of the ankle being composed of contrasting yarns.

5. A seamless stocking having a circuknit, upper leg portion, a gore at the larl calf portion respectively hav ng a varying number of loops in successive .courses, a split work ankle integrally knitted with said ore and said leg portion and as an imme iate continuation thereof, the seam at each side of the gore meeting the top of the ankle suture seams, and a foot integral with the ankle portion.

6. A seamless stocking having a circularly knit, upper leg portion, a gore at the calf portion respectively having a varying number of loops in successive courses, a split Work ankle constituting an immediate continuation of said gore and the corresponding front leg portion, the suture seams phereof meet the seams of the gore, and a oot.

7. That method of knitting a seamless stocking comprising knitting a tubular, upper leg portion, then reciprocatingly knitting a gore with a varying number of needles in successive courses, then immediatel knitting an ankle portion by split work witli separate yarns, and then knitting a foot.

8. That method of knitting a eamless stocking comprising knitting the upper leg portion by rotary knitting, then throwing out of action while retaining their loops the front half of the needles and all of the remaining needles except a relativel small number symmetrically arranged at t e back of the leg, then reciprocatin ly/ knitting a gore as an integral'continuation of the upper leg portion, and successively increasing the num er of needles in successive courses, thereby restoring to action the rear needles temporarily placed out of action,'.then restoring to action the front half of the needles then immediately knitting the ankle portion by split 'work with separate yarns, and then knitting a foot.

9.- That method of knitting a seamlem stocklng comprising knitting by tubular work the upper leg portion, then throwin out of action while retaining their loops the front half of the needles and all of the second half excepting a relatively small number mmetrically positioned at the back of the leg, then hitting reciprocatingly a gore upon the needles in action and the successively restored, remaining, rear half of the needles. thereby producing a tapering seam, then restoring to action the front half of the needles, then upon separate yarns immediately knitting by split work the front and back of the ankle, and then integrally with the ankle knitting a heel, a split foot and a toe.

10. Those steps in the knitting of a seamless stocking upon a circular series of needles which comprise throwing out of action while retaining their loops a group of needles at the front of the stocking at the calf portion thereof, and then upon the remaining needles knitting a gore composed "of partial courses, and thereafter bringing into action all the needles and knitting split work thereon as an immediate continuation of said gore and the corresponding front part of the stocking 11. Those steps in the knitting of a seamless stocking upon a circular series of needles which comprise throwing out of action while retaining their loops a group of needles at the front of the stocking at the calf portion thereof, and then upon the remainin needles 12. A seamless stocking having a circular- 4 ly knit, upper leg portion, a gore atthe calf portion thereof composed of additional partial courses, a split-work ankle integrally knitted with said gore and leg portion, and a foot integral with the ankle portion.

13. A seamless stocking having a circularly knit, upper leg portion, a gore at the calf portion composed of additional partial courses varying in length, asplit-work ankle integrally knitted with said gore and leg portion and as an immediate continuation thereof, and a foot integral with the ankle portion.

14. A seamless stocking having a circularly knit, u per leg portion, a gore at the calf portion, t e wales whereof are all continuations of wales in the tubular part of the upper leg portion, a split-work ankle integrally knitted with said gore and leg portion and as an immediate continuation thereof, and a. foot integral with the ankle portion.

15. A seamless stocking having a circularly knit, upper leg ortion, a gore at the calf portion com of additional partial courses having respectively a varying number of loops in successive courses, a split-,

work ankle integrall knitted, with said gore and: leg portion an as an immediate contmuation thereof, and a foot integral with the ankle portion.

ill

% Lemoee 16. A seamless stocking havinga circularcontinuationthereof, the m at each side of 1y knit, upper leg portion, a gore at the calf the gore meeting the top of the ankle suture portion composed of additional partial seams, and .a-"foot integral with the ankle 10 courses having respectively a varying numportion. 5 her of loops in successive courses, a split- In testimony whereof, I have signed my work ankle integrally knitted with said ore name 11.70 this specification. and said leg portion and as an imme late GEORGE P. BUSWORTH. 

